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Feb 2024 – International Airlines Group (IAG) and Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) – via its xBridge innovation programme – have deployed Synaptic Aviation’s computer vision, opening up a wealth of new data. IAG and PIT are both Corporate Partners of the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub.
The cutting-edge technology uses Artificial Intelligence models for computer vision to monitor ramp operations via cameras stationed at a gate. They record everything that happens and feed it back to a workstation that can synthesise the data almost instantly into actionable information for airlines and airports.
Data points can include how long it takes an aircraft to park, for baggage to be loaded and unloaded, passengers deplaned and boarded, positioning of ramp crew, and more. The workstation runs the data through various modelling algorithms and then uploads it to the cloud, where airline and airport employees can access it and run analytics and reports and even watch the recorded video with graphic overlays.
Staff at PIT and IAG – parent company of Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, LEVEL and Vueling – have been trained on the system and are already using it to evaluate their operations.
In 2023, IAG signed a memorandum of understanding with PIT to drive the aviation industry forward by developing technological solutions to safety, customer experience and operational efficiency challenges for both airlines and airports.
“As an airline, we’re pushing the technology, but we’re really keen that the airports are joining us on that journey,” said Thomas Cannell, Program Director, Airports Automation, IAG Airports. “And that’s been something that’s quite exciting and progressive from Pittsburgh, that they want to go on that journey with us. The beauty of the technology is it’s focused on the same thing, every flight, every gate. It’s a really important starting step to revolutionising what we do on the ramp. And that’s where the benefit comes in.”
xBridge, launched in late 2020, works with both established and startup technology companies to develop tech solutions for aviation and other industries onsite at PIT. For xBridge Director Cole Wolfson, the Synaptic project is exciting because of what it could mean not just for PIT, but the aviation industry as a whole. “At xBridge, we work with companies to test new technologies not just for PIT, but also for our partners and the industry,” he said. “By testing these technologies here, we are certainly able to better understand how they can enhance our operations and passenger experience, but that’s not the only goal. More broadly, success for us is testing and demonstrating these technologies for the industry, so that they may make a significant impact far beyond Pittsburgh.”
FTE Aviation & Robotics Summit to take place in Pittsburgh, 14-16 May 2024
Learn more about robotics at the FTE Aviation & Robotics Summit, taking place in Pittsburgh – the “Robotics Capital of the World” – on 14-16 May 2024.
The FTE Aviation & Robotics Summit 2024 will bring together aviation and robotics industry professionals with the primary goal of solving aviation business and operational challenges with robotics solutions. The three-day interdisciplinary series of conference sessions, workshops, robotics innovation tours, and networking opportunities will take place across the city of Pittsburgh. The workshops will be hosted at the renowned Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) – one of the top robotics and computer science universities in the world.
To meet phenomenal demand for insights and learning in this realm, the 2024 event will be open to all industry executives with a definitive focus on robotics and AI – technologies which we are convinced will reimagine the aviation sector within the next five to 10 years.
There are a total of 100 complimentary tickets available for direct employees of Airports, Airlines, Aircraft Manufacturers and Government Agencies, who must express their interest by Thursday 29 February in order to be considered for a free ticket. In addition, we have 100 tickets available for Vendors/Suppliers.
